Insights from history: What can the past teach us about technological transformation?

Watch a short introductory video from the research team behind the ‘Insights from History’ project.

Research overview

The transition to sustainability coincides with an industrial digitalization. While this latest industrial revolution creates new challenges, it also revives historical ones encountered in previous transitions. Through two parallel systematic reviews, challenges are identified for the current digitalization transition and historical transitions: mechanization, electrification and computerization.

The aim of this research is to identify lessons from history that may help overcome the challenges of industrial digitalization. The paper provides illustrative examples of social factors that are either internal to a technology adopting organization or external, related to wider societal change. These factors suggest actionable insights that may support the adoption of Industrial Digital Technologies. The following videos and report introduce the project in more detail and provide a full accounting of their findings.

This research was conducted by Dr. Ahmad Beltagui, Dr. Brian Sudlow (Aston University) Dr. Miying Yang, Glen Jonata (Cranfield University), and Qinglan Liu (Exeter University). This work was supported by the UKRI Made Smarter Innovation Challenge and the Economic and Social Research Council via InterAct [Grant Reference ES/W007231/1].

For further discussion or questions about this project, please contact Ahmad Beltagui.

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Watch an animated explainer about the impact of technological change on the mining industry.

Listen to the story of Edmund Cartwright, 18/19th century inventor, and what it can teach us about the challenges facing innovators.

Learn about the potential of small business cooperation through the case of arms manufacturers in 19th century Birmingham.

Learn about the potential of out of the box thinking when examining the benefits of new technology through the lens of the electrification of steam powered factories.

Find out more about the pitfalls of timing in innovation through the example of electric vehicle development.